Switch attachment for engineers&#39; automatic brake valves



Jan. 20. 1925. 1,523,727

C. F. SHADLE SWITCH ATTACHMENT FOR ENGINEERS-AUTOMATIC BRAKE VALVES Filed Dec. 10, 1923 mmvmg. Q/NTON 55/117015.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan 2%, 1925,

lll lll ldfi castes.

CLINTON F.

IVTENT CORPORATION, OF ZNDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

SWITCH ATTACHMENT FOR ENGINEERS AUTOIVIATIC BRAKE VALVES.

Application filed December 10, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CLINTON F. SHADLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Switch Attachment for Engineers Automatic Brake Valves; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like niunerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to a switch construction included in an automatic train control system not described or claimed herein, but which forms the subject matter of a separate application, wherein permissive operation of a train provided with air brakes is permitted by the engineer or en gineman operating certain control switch means when the train control system is arranged for either the total or partial nonoperation of the train.

The chief object of the invention is to incorporate such a switch means with the engineers normal controlling means, to-wit, the engineers brake valve, whereby there is obtained simultaneous and predetermined operation between the immediate electrical circuits controlled by the switch construction and the braking system controlled by the engineers valve.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the construction of the parts constituting the switch construction so that they may be applied to the standard H6 engineers automatic brake valve, as an at tachment with a minimum amount of change to said valve and with a maximum degree of accuracy and simplicity of construction, whereby the aforesaid predetermined and coordinated control is secured.

Other features of the invention consist in the details of construction embodied in the switch means and the supporting parts associated therewith.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. l is a top plan view of an engineers automatic brake valve, and

Serial No. 679,750.

that herein illustrated is known in the art as the H43 type. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of so much of the same as is necessary for an understanding of the invention. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the switch construction the handle and the valve showing the association therebetween. Fig. t is a side elevational view of substantially the same parts illustrated in Fig. with the replacing handle and with the switch con struction shown in section to illustrate other parts in detail. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the switch elements. Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of a portion of the switch support. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the switch and valve showing a pre determined coordination between the electrical circuits and the pneumatic circuits.

in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings 10 indicates the flange upon the body of the engineers automatic brake valve of the H43 type. 11 indicates a complementary flange upon the valve head 12 which carries a cap 13 and an operating shaft 14. The operating shhft 14 carries a lever or operating'handle 15 suitably secured thereon by the locking nuts 16. The handle is offset as at 17 and supported thereby is a position indicating pointer or projection and notchengaging toothed construction 18 adapted to engage in the notches 19 formed in the collar 20 upon the neck 12. The valve head 12 also is provided with a projecting tongue 21.

Reference will now be had particularly to Figs. 3, a and 6, wherein the connection between the switch construction and the engineers automatic brake valve previously described and its mounting and support thereby is illustrated in detail. The handle 15 of Figs. 1 and 2 is replaced by a handle 11:") substantially similar thereto having an oil'- set portion 117 and carrying the projection 118 substantially identical with that previously described. However, extending oppoitely from the handle portion and outwardly therefrom is a projection 23, which projection s8 is axially slotted as at 24. Communicating with said axial slot 24: and extending toward the n'iounting of the handle is a recess 25 reduced in area. Said recess 25 is adapted to contain a coil spring g i 1,523,727, v 7 7 26, and the slot 24 is adapted to receive a Eli tongue or tooth 27. The tongue or tooth 27 is apertured at 28, and said aperture is elongated. In alignment withsaid aper' ture 28 and in the projection 23 is a pair of-transversely positioned and alignedopenings adapted to receive tlie'securing bolt 30. The securing bolt 30 thus permits the tooth 27 to have "slightrelative axial movement but prevents its removal from the slot re ceiving the same. The 'springe maintains the tooth 27 in its outermost position in engagement. with a complementary part hereinafter to be described. The foregoing constitutes the sole change in the handle; and it has been found inore'econoinical to provide a new handle 115 anl supply thereto the old part"18-and the new parts pres 'viously described than it is to attach the new .parts to said handle 15. Likewise the replacement of the old handle by the "new handle-assures positive operation by and attachment to the. handle of theswitch constructibnfsince the projection 23 is integral,

and, therefore, always rigid with. said handle. v

The switch construction is 'a'rcuat'e in form and is concentric with the center of the operating :shaft 14 ofthe engineerss automatic brake valve, and said switcheon struction is operable by said handlethrough theniediu n of the actuating tooth'27.

Herein the means for supporting the arcuate switch construction is illustrated particularly iii-Figs. 4 and and-includes an arcuate base or flange. 31 having a radial groove therein. Extending upwardly from said base is a standard 33, and cooperating with; said standard is a reen'fo'rcingweb 34, said web and said standard'thus forming a support for the arcuate switch construction, the-details of which are here'- inafterto be described. It willbe observed from Fig. 4 that the base'31 is superposed with resp'ect'to the complementary flanges 10 and 11 and is simultaneously secured thereto with. them by the customary bolt- 35 and'nut 36. For'this purpose the flange 31 is provided with suitable bolt-receiving apertures. When thus: positioned, the tongu'e 2l i s received by the groove 32 which aligns the base with respect to the' valve head Since the head 12 carries the post tioning, collar construction :22, the entire switch construction will "be; aligned with respect tothe valve and, therefoi-e, operable in predetermined relation with saidvalve.

In Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated an arcuate laterally channeled "frame having the side 37,'l3l16 top 38 and the bottom 39. Extending downwardly from said bottom 39, is a flange 40,-,andextending upwardly from said top 38 is a plurality of collars or The boss 41 is externally threaded to receive 46; andupon each side of the top in alignment with said opening 43 there is ,positioned insulation washers Bigidlyse cured in said insulated opening thus formed is'a brush or contact-guide 48 :having a col lar 49 adapted to bear upon one of the washers 47. A docking nut 50 is associated with said contact guide and serves to rigidly mount the same in" the insula-ted-opei'iing previously described, An adjusting screw 51"is associated with said guide 48 and serves to'adjust the position ofthebrush 52 orcontact carriedbysaid guide 48. A suitable entrance for the circuit :wire is provided, but herein is not illustrated.

@pposite'the arcuate face 37' is an arcuate plate which arcuatc, plate is adapted to'form with the framework previouslydescribedan arcuate housing. Said arcu'ate plate 53 is provided with three parallel projections 54, and'56. lheprojections 54 and 55 are adapted to'respectively overly and un'derly the top 38 and thus forin-a tongue and groove connection. The lateral projection 56 is adapted to overly'the bot;

tom'39 and form a base to which an arcuate insulation strip 57 is secured 'by suitable means such as the screws 58, andsaid insir lation strip carries an arcuate conducting strip Theistrip 59. is adapted t'o bridge the contacts 52 selectively and either-"open the circuits or selectively close oneof two circuits, all in predetermined relation andin coordination with the positioning offthe valve previously described. The plate '53 carries a [pair of projections 60--whiclr form two circuits; the central contact-act ing as acommon line for the two outside contacts. As shown in Fig. 7, the switch arranged to inaintainbotli circuits in open position or either circuit inclosed position.

' lVhile the invention has been described in great detai inthe foregoing specifications,

the same is not to be understood as restrictive in character. As pointed out in the fore- ;part of the specification, the" invention con sists in thebroad' idea of mounting a switch construction upon a controlling men'iber, so

that the switch and the means controlled by the controlling member wiil be operated simultaneously and in predetermined'rela tion, and also that said switch may beatiii lit)

tached to the controlling member with a minimum of effort and change in the controlling member.

In addition to the foregoing, the arrange ment and construction of the switch is also a part of this invention. All of the modifications which will readily suggest them selves to those skilled in the art to which this invention applies are considered to be within the broad purview of this invention, as outlined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. The combination with an engineers brake valve for an air brake system having a handle, of a replacing handle similar thereto and including a projection, switch means detachably but rigidly supported. upon said valve adjacent the handle and 0perable by said projection.

2. The combination with an engineers brake valve for an air brake system having a rotatably movable portion -for control purposes, and a flange, of a switch construction including a base adapted to be rigidly se cured to said valve flange, and a connection between said switch construction and said valve control portion for operating said switch simultaneously with said valve.

3. The combination with an engineers brake valve for an air brake system having a rotatably movable portion for control purposes, and a flange, of a switch construction including a base adapted to be rigidly secured to said valve flange, and a connection between said switch construction and said valve control portion for operating said switch simultaneously with said valve, and in predetermined relation between the circuit means controlled by the switch and the air brake means controlled by the valve.

4. The combination with an engineers brake valve for an air brake system having a handle including a projecting portion, of a switch construction including a base adapted to be rigidly secured to said valve flange, and means associated with said switch construction engageable by said handle projection for actuating said switch construction when said valve is actuated.

The combination with an engineers brake valve for an air brake system having a handle including a projecting portion, of a switch construction including a base adapted to be rigidly secured to said valve flange, and means associated with said switch construction engageable by said handle projection for actuating said switch construction when said valve is actuated, and in predetermined relation beween the circuit means cont-rolled by the switch and the air brake means controlled by the valve.

6. The combination with an engineers brake valve for an air brake system having a rotatably movable portion for control purposes, and an arcuate flange including a radial tongue, of a switch construction including an arcuate base having a radial groove therein adapted to receive the radial tongue and adapted to be rigidly secured to said valve flange, and a connection between said switch construction and said valve control portion for operating said switch simul taneously with said valve. I

7. The combination with an engineers brake valve for an air brake system having a handle including a projecting portion, of a switch construction including an arcuate base having a radial groove therein adapted to receive the radial tongue and adapted to be rigidly secured to said valve flange, and means associated with said switch construction engageable by said handle projection for actuating said switch construction when said valve is actuated.

8. The combination with an engineers brake valve for an air brake system having a rotatably movable portion for control purposes, and an arcuate flange including a radial tongue, of a switch construction including an arcuate base having a radial groove therein adapted to receive the radial tongue and adapted to be rigidly secured to said valve flange, and a connection between said switch construction and said valve control portion for operating said switch simultaneously with said valve, and in predetermined relation between the circuit means controlled by the switch and the air brake means controlled by the valve.

9. The combination with an engineers brake valve for an air brake system having a handle including a projecting portion, of a switch construction including an arcuate base having a radial groove therein adapted to receive the radial. tongue and adapted to be rigidly secured to said valve flange, and means associated with said switch construction engageable by said handle projection for actuating said switch construction when said valve is actuated, and in predetermined relation between the circuit means controlled by the switch and the air brake means controlled by the valve.

10. In a switch construction, the combination of an arcuate laterally channeled frame, a plurality of contact supported thereby, an arcuate plate arcuately movable relative to the frame, and contact bridging means carried by said plate.

11. In a switch constructioi'i, the combination of an arcuate laterally channeled frame, a plurality of contacts supported thereby, an arcuate plate arcuately movable relative to the frame and having an arcuate tongue and groove connection with said frame, and contact bridging means carried by said plate.

12. In a switch construction, the combination of an arcuate laterally channeled frame, a plurality of contacts, individual means ad- 

